Free Winter Term at Malory Towers by Enid Blyton Page A

completely forgot—you have to do extra prep for Miss Tallant, don’t you?’
    Everyone laughed, and Olive scowled, before stalking angrily to the door and flouncing out. As the door slammed behind her, Felicity said, ‘Miss Tallant will keep her nose to the grindstone, all right, while we are all out enjoying the fresh air.’
    â€˜It seems a jolly odd punishment to me, though,’ said Bonnie, who had been looking thoughtful. ‘I know that Miss Tallant is not on duty this weekend, for she told me so herself. Yet she has chosen to give up part of her Saturday too, so that she can sit in the classroom with Olive.’
    This seemed very strange indeed, for the girls knew how hard the mistresses worked, and how they treasured their free time.
    â€˜I never thought of that!’ exclaimed Lucy. ‘Fancy wanting to give up part of a weekend off to spend time with a sourpuss like Olive.’
    â€˜Perhaps Miss Tallant has nothing better to do,’ said June. ‘The mistresses sometimes go home to visit their family or friends when they have a weekend off. Miss Tallant might not have a family. And I’m quite sure that she can’t have any friends. I don’t think she’s awfully popular with the mistresses here either.’
    â€˜She’s not,’ piped up Bonnie. ‘I stayed behind to help her tidy the classroom the other day, and she told me that Mam’zelle Dupont dislikes her. So does Miss Potts.’
    â€˜She really shouldn’t say such things to you, Bonnie,’ said Susan disapprovingly. ‘I’m quite sure that none of the other mistresses would!’
    â€˜I think it’s a jolly good thing that she did,’ said Junewarmly. ‘After all, the whole point of Bonnie sucking up to Miss Tallant was so that she could get to know things about her. Well done, Bonnie!’
    Of course, this was the first that Sylvia had heard about Bonnie’s plan to become Miss Tallant’s favourite, and she looked extremely startled.
    Seeing her expression, Freddie said, ‘I suppose you don’t approve, Sylvia?’
    â€˜You’re wrong,’ said Sylvia, to everyone’s surprise. ‘I don’t like Miss Tallant. She’s sly, and if Bonnie can find out what she’s up to that will be a very good thing.’
    Bonnie smiled, and said, ‘Actually, it’s rather lucky for us that she doesn’t seem to have any friends, for that means that I am the only person she has to talk to.’
    â€˜I don’t think it’s lucky at all,’ said Nora, dismayed. ‘If Miss Tallant is going to start dishing out Saturday morning preps as punishment simply because she has nothing better to occupy her time, we shall all have to watch our step!’
    â€˜Golly, yes,’ said Julie, horrified. ‘I always spend Saturdays with Jack, and Lucy with Sandy. And I’m not very good at English or Drama, so I’m certain to get a row from Miss Tallant sooner or later.’
    â€˜Well, perhaps we had better give our dear Miss Tallant something to do,’ said June thoughtfully.
    â€˜Do you have anything in mind?’ asked Felicity.
    â€˜Not yet,’ said June. ‘But I’ll think of something, you may be sure. Now, let’s go and get our hats and coats on and enjoy the sunshine.’

7
Miss Tallant interferes
    The fourth formers enjoyed their lunch, for their walk in the fresh air had made them very hungry indeed. Only Olive seemed to have no appetite, pushing the food around her plate with a fork, but eating very little. She looked even more miserable than usual, thought Felicity. Miss Tallant had probably given her a really bad time. Despite her dislike of Olive, Felicity couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for her, and said kindly, ‘You must feel glad that your punishment is over, Olive. Did Miss Tallant give you a lot of extra work to do?’
    â€˜Quite a lot,’ answered